Perfume diffuser



Aug. 11, 1959 A. E. MURRAY PERFUME DIFFUSER Filed Nov. 19, 1956INVENTOR. ART/{UR E. MURRA 1 H/S A T TOPNE rs 7 United States Patentngfi 2,898,649

Patented Aug. 11, 1959 PERFUME DIFFUSER Arthur E. Murray, San Jose,Calif, assignor, by direct and mesne as'sig'nmcnts, of forty percent toElaine T. 'Cass'idy, Stockton, and twenty percent to Jim FloresRodriquez, Santa Clara, Calif.

Application November 1'9, 1956, Serial No. 622,858

6 =Claims. (Cl. 21- 120) This invention relates in general to a perfumediffuser, :and more specifically to a perfume diffuser for use Within avehicle.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved perfumediffuser which may be conveniently mounted within a vehicle for creatinga delicate odor within the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved perfumediffuser which is electrically operated with the electrical componentthereof being so designed whereby a minimum of electricity is utilizedfor the perfume diffusing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved perfumediffuser which is of a. relatively simple construction and soconstructed and designed as to be quickly and easily replenished withperfume.

A further object of this invention is to provide an "improved perfumediffuser for use in a conventional cigarette lighter outlet socketnormally found in dashes [of vehicles.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a diffuser soconstructed as to receive a conventional, com .mercially available vialcontaining perfume. In this connection the present inventioncontemplates that the tusual cap or cover of such vials be removed and acap, particularly suited for operation in the diffuser of the presentinvention, be substituted therefor. To this end 'the present inventionfurther embodies the provision of a wick bearing cap for perfume vialsso constructed as to :transmit the liquid from the vial to a source ofheat for vaporization thereby.

It is still another object to provide a perfume diffuser of thecharacter herein mentioned with a transparent receiver for the perfumevial communicated with a light source so as to visually display thecolor and quantity :of perfume contained in the vial.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, com- !bination and arrangement ofelements and portions as 'Wlll be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a :material part ofthis application and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a perfume diffuser .embodying thepresent invention and mounted in a cigarette lighter electrical socketor outlet of the type rusuall y built into the dash of a conventionalvehicle, the outlet being shown in section and the dash panel being.iilustrated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing fthe contactprongs of the socket in section.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the entire diffuser and socketof Figs. 1 and 2 but at larger scale that "the perfume diffuser 10,which is the subject of this invention has the general appearance of aconventional cigarette lighter and includes a perfume dispensingportion, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 11,and an electrical actuating portion which is referred to in general bythe reference numeral 12.

In connection with the foregoing it will be noted that the electricalactuating portion 12 is formed at one end of a tubular body 13 theinterior of which serves as a housing 14 for a light and heat source 15in the form of a small incandescent globe or bulb 16 disposedsubstantially midway the ends of the diffuser.

The perfume diffusing portion 11 consistsof a handle 17 in the form of areceptacle 1'8 fora vial 19 of perfume. This handle 17 has a threadedneck 20 adapted to be threadedly connected to a threaded bore 21 in thefree end of the tubular body 13. i

As best seen in Fig. 3 the vial I9 is a conventional small bottle forperfume available in the channels of commerce. The cap has been removedfrom the vial 19 and replaced by a cap 22 especially constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

This special cap 22 has a wick 23 extending therethrough by way of agrommet of sleeve 24 constituting a wick holder. The sleeve 24 alsoextends through a light screen in the form of a translucent member orwasher 25 to secure the light screen to the cap 22. The washer 25 is ofsuch diameter as to fit into the tubular housing 14 against the neck 20of the handle 17. The grommet 24 extends slightly beyond the washer '25to receive a light coil spring 26 Which circumscribes the extended end27 of the Wick 23 and tends to maintain the fatter in axial alignmentwith the cap 22, handle 17 and of course the housing 14 into which thewick extends. The grommet 24 is flared slightly to keep one end of thecoil spring 26 securely fastened thereto so that the balance of thespring tends to urge the wick toward the globe or lamp 16 as best seenin Fig. 3. That portion of the wick which is confined within the grommet24 fits snuggly within the latter so that the fluid in the vial will notleak out except by capillary action via the wick.

The opposite end 28 of the wick extends into the vial 19 and into theperfume contained therein. In this manner the perfume absorbed by thewick 23 travels by capillary action out toward the source of heat 15(lamp 16) for evaporation by the heat created at suchsource of heat.

The tubular body 13 has a plurality of radially extending ports 30formed therein adjacent the source of heat 15 so that the fumes ofevaporating perfume can escape from the housing 14 for diffusiontherefrom so as to permeate the chamber, room or vehicle cab in whichthe diffuser is installed.

In addition to the foregoing it should be noted that the rays of lightfrom the light globe or lamp 16 pass into and through the light screen,translucent washer 25, and the glass vial 19 as well as the translucentmaterial from which the handle 17 is made. In this manner the occupantof the vehicle is aware of the fact that the diffuser is operating andcan also see whether the supply of perfume in the tank or vial 19 issufficient or should be replenished.

The electrical actuating portion 12 includes a first contact 36 which issecured in spaced relation to a circular contact 38 by a rivet 40. Itwill be noted that the rivet 40 passes through the contacts 36 and 38and that the contacts are maintained in spaced relation by an annularspacer 42 and an insulator 43 associated with an insulated bushing 44,the insulator 43 and the bushing 44 insulating the contact 38 from therivet 40. The inner end of the rivet 40 compr'essively engages theflange 46 of bushing 44 and this flange 46 engages the inner surface ofone end of a threaded socket 59, for securing the latter in axialalignment with the rivet 40. The contact 38 has a sleeve portion 39which fits into an enlarged passage formed in one end 45 of the tubularhousing 14 and as seen in Fig. 3, the socket 50 is secured firmlyagainst this end wall 45 in axial alignment with the housing 14. Thethreaded socket 50 threadedly receives the lamp 16 which is aconventional small amperage light bulb whose base contact engages theinner head of the rivet 40.

Referring now to Fig. l in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated in phantom a portion of a conventional dash 66 of a vehiclein which is mounted an electrical outlet 68 for a conventional cigarettelighter. The outlet 68 is generally cupshaped and connected to the dash66, which forms one lead of an electrical circuit. Carried by the base70 of the outlet 68 is an insulated contact 72 to which is connected alead wire 74.

In order that the perfume diffuser may be selectively positioned withinthe electrical outlet 68 in the same manner as is positioned aconventional electric cigarette lighter, the body 13 therefore isprovided with a spacing ring 76 which has an outwardly projectingannular shoulder at the outer end thereof for limited movement of theperfume diffuser within the outlet 68.

It will be seen that when the perfume diffuser is pushed into theelectrical outlet 68 to a position whereby the annular shoulder 76engages the outer end of the electrical outlet 68 the outer head of therivet 40 engages the insulated contact 72 carried by the electricaloutlet 68. A further contact is made between the electrical outlet 68and the second contact 38 of the perfume diffuser. Current then passesthrough the rivet 40 into the center contact of the electric lamp 16thence via the screw shank of the latter into threaded socket 50 and outthrough the contact 38 and back to the electrical outlet 68 which isgrounded to a second wire 80. By pulling the perfume diffuser slightlyout of the electrical outlet 68, current through the electric light 16is cut off and the diffuser does not operate.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoingdescription of the details thereof, taken in connection with the aboverecited objects and drawings. Further descriptions would appear to beunnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from theembodiment of this device illustrated and described here, may beresorted to Without departure from the spirit and scope of thisinvention, as described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A perfume diifuser comprising a housing receivable in a vehiclecigarette lighter socket, an electrical contact at one end of saidhousing, a light globe within said housing electrically connected tosaid contact and said housing for receiving electrical energy from acigarette lighter socket, a perfume tank within said housing remote fromsaid light globe, a wick holder carried by said housing andcommunicating with said tank, a wick carried by said wick holder havingone end disposed within said tank and an opposite end disposed closelyadjacent said light globe, light and perfume passages in said housingadjacent said bulb.

2. The perfume dispenser of claim 1 including a translucent membercarried by said wick holder to provide a light screen between said lightglobe and said light passages.

3. A perfume diffuser including a main body receivable in a cigarettelighter socket connected to an electrical circuit, said main body havinga hollow center providing a housing, an electrical contact at one end ofsaid main body, a light globe providing a source of heat Within saidhousing electrically connected to said contact at said one end of saidmain body for receiving electrical energy from said socket, a hollowhandle removably secured to the opposie end of said main body, a vial ofperfume in said hollow handle, a cap on said vial having a passageformed therethrough, a wick snugly fitting and extending through thepassage in said cap and having its one end submerged in the perfume insaid vial and its opposite end engaging said light globe for evaporatingperfume from said wick, and a plurality of ports formed in said mainbody in the region of said light globe affording escapement of fumes ofevaporating perfume from said housing.

4. A perfume diffuser including a main body receivable in a cigarettelighter socket connected to an electrical circuit, said main body havinga hollow center providing a housing, a light globe within the housingelectrically connected to said contact at said one end of said main bodyfor receiving electrical energy from said socket, said body beingperforated in the region of said light globe for venting said housing,the opposite end of said main body having threading formed thereon, ahollow translucent handle having a threaded neck at its open endthreadedly secured to the threading at the open opposite end of saidmain body, a vial of perfume in said hollow handle, a cap for said vialhaving an axial passage for a wick, a wick extending through the passagein said cap adapted to have one of its ends in the perfume in said vialand its opposite end in engagement with said light globe, and yieldablemeans connected to said cap and bearing against said wick for urging thelatter into engagement with said light globe.

5. A perfume diffuser including a tubular body of nonconductive materialreceivable in a cigarette lighter socket connected in an electricalcircuit, an electrical contact at one end of said tubular body, a lightglobe within said tubular body electrically connected to said contact atsaid one end of the latter for receiving electrical energy from saidsocket, a hollow translucent handle removably secured to the oppositeend of said tubular body, a vial of perfume in said hollow handle, capmeans for said vial, a light diffusing transparent member secured tosaid cap for centering said vial axially of said handle and said tubularbody, a wick extending through said cap and light screen forcommunicating the perfume in said vial with said light globe, andgrommet means extending through said cap and light screen for sealinglysecuring them together while providing a passage for said Wick.

6. A perfume diffuser including a tubular body of nonconductive materialreceivable in a cigarette lighter socket connected in an electricalcircuit, an electrical contact at one end of said tubular body, a lightglobe within said tubular body electrically connected to said contact atsaid one end of the latter for receiving electrical energy from saidsocket, a hollow translucent handle removably secured to the oppositeend of said tubular body, a vial of perfume in said hollow handle, capmeans for said vial, a transparent washer for centering said vialaxially of said handle and said tubular body, a wick extending throughsaid cap and transparent washer for communicating the perfume in saidvial with said light globe, grommet means extending through said cap andtransparent washer for sealingly securing them together while providinga passage for said wick, and a coil spring circumscribing said grommetmeans and that end of said wick extending therefrom toward said lightglobe for urging said wick into positive engagement with the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,440,255 Ward Dec. 26, 1922 1,535,287 Beeler Apr. 28, 1925 1,601,097Alanson Sept. 28, 1926 1,712,204 Gibnev May 7, 1929 2,152,466 Clyne Mar.28, 1939 2,231,095 Sommer Feb. 11, 1941 2,424,268 Delano July 22, 19472,434,825 Williams Jan. 20, 1948 2,469,656 Lienert May 10, 19492,514,171 Waltner July 4, 1950 2,714,649 Critzer Aug. 2, 1955 2,733,333Peters Jan. 31, 1956

